Farming: inside and outside the classroom
I was very lucky to attend the Royal Cheshire County Show where I attended an accredited Farming and Countryside Education training event. This training covered basic subject knowledge about dairy farming such as how much milk a cow produces each day (about 25L). We also completed activities to assist us with planning trips to get the most out of them, specifically farm visits, but the skills are obviously transferable.
Admittedly, some of the information was common sense, but other learning was genuinely brand new. Something as simple as all chickens are corn fed... it may seem ridiculous but I had never actually thought about it - what a clever marketing ploy! However, with the luxury of knowledgable professionals guiding us round the Show we were able to extend our knowledge and satisfy our curiosity.
So What?
A farm trip is a pretty standard trip in a primary students' school life. However, does it always have to be in Key Stage 1? The complexity of knowledge that can be imparted by farmers would deem the answer to be a resounding no! In fact, I can see benefits of taking secondary students to farms. And the topics possible to cover are truly cross curricular.
Surprisingly, when I really started thinking of all that I have learnt I realised that all elements of the teacher standards can be covered in some aspects. When going on trips there should always be high expectations of behaviour. However, if the trip is well planned, with students able to take ownership by being involved in planning, and even risk assessment, students will be motivated. The environment will be stimulating but with the strategies in place to reduce risk, such as hand washing, it will also be safe.
If trips are prepared for properly pupils are able to identify their existing knowledge through discussion or simply taking their questions with them, but by doing that their own learning objectives can be worked into the trip. The learning then has more meaning for the children and assessments are less obvious as children may wish to celebrate their personal achievements as a consequence.
For some students the structure and constricts of the classroom environment are actually a barrier to learning. When undertaking such learning experiences many children will be more responsive purely because of the active nature. However, there are some students for which the lack of routine will pose severe challenges. The importance of planning and preparing the children for the trip is heightened in these circumstances.
The excitement that is a natural effect of going on a school trip often provides a challenge to behaviour standards. However, the experience is all the more valuable as it is in the real world. Sometimes, it is not the academic outcomes that are the most valuable as a consequence of learning outside the classroom but the social, moral, spiritual or cultural. With a farming visit specifically children may be visiting the countryside for the first time, they may only realise on a farming visit that their beef burger is actually the cow that they have just seen; some children, even those in secondary school, have never made the connection. These realisations can be difficult but if we can teach our primary school children where their food comes from, and the ethics around that, it is not so shocking as discovering the cute chicken is where you lovely roast dinner comes from.
Stickability
The most notable message I got from this training was to include children in the planning of the trip - not handing it over to them, but allowing them to have some impact and ownership of what they want to learn.
The other resounding message was communication. Ensure that when planning trips, the establishments visited and informed of any potential risks, such as the child that is allergic to bees, and discuss what you (and the children) would like to get out of the trip. Providers can then adapt activities to fulfil the needs of your specific group.
And finally, you cannot book coaches too early! They get booked up very quick.
Finally...
I always include TS8 as one of the standards met by the additional training I do, however in this case it was much more than just an extra training course. The networking and links that this event built was staggering. I would have no hesitation in contacting the trainer or even the farmers union with queries and requests for advice. If by any chance you are reading this blog and have the opportunity to do attend this event please grab it with both hands! The learning potential is enormous and I have found it extremely valuable.
